What is the Summer Agricultural Institute (SAI)?

SAI is a five-day, traveling tour designed to teach K-12+ teachers and community educators about food and fiber production and help them incorporate that knowledge in the classroom curriculum. SAI combines hands-on learning about agriculture with practical curriculum development.

View our online brochure for more information and be sure to share it with others.

What Does SAI Do?

SAI provides participants with free classroom materials that are aligned to Arizona's College and Career Ready Standards. Participants will visit a variety of agricultural operations, spend an entire day at the University of Arizona's research farm, visit schools with active agriculture education programs, and spend an afternoon with a modern-day farming or ranching family.

What Have Teachers Said about SAI?

• "An educationally jam-packed week!"
• "Volumes of information - I'm glad it was fast paced."
• "Tiring, but very educational!"
• "Amazing, fast-paced, and informative."
• "Long, but very intensive about learning how agriculture works."
• "Packed with interesting info, extremely valuable, exhausting, not to be missed!"

When & Where - Next year...Monday, June 14 thru Friday, June 18, 2021

The 30th SAI will be held Monday, June 14 thru Friday, June 18, 2021. SAI is traditionally held in early June and begins in the Phoenix area. Agricultural tours are conducted in various locations around the state. The 30th Class of SAI will travel south to the hearty lands of Yavapai County.

Visit the Details page to see a timeline of important dates.

Cost

There is no cost to apply for SAI, but you must be accepted to participate. Apply by March 1, 2021 and only pay $125, if you are accepted. Apply after March 1, 2021 and pay $175. Accepted applicants will need to provide payment by May 31, 2021.

The cost for one’s travel, lodging, and meals for 4 nights & 5 days would be around $665/educator. However, participants are only asked to pay up to $175 of that cost, depending on when you apply. The remaining cost is covered by the Arizona Foundation for Agricultural Literacy which is dependent on donations from Arizona agribusinesses. Participants must provide their own transportation to and from Phoenix.

Application

Applications are accepted through May 1, 2021. Participants will be notified of acceptance into the Institute by May 10, 2021. Please keep yourself available for the week of the institute. Visit the Application page to begin the application process.

Professional Development

Participants who complete SAI will receive a certificate indicating the earning of 48 professional development hours. Be sure to contact your district office to confirm their approval.

Participants have the option to earn up to three graduate-level credits through The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. These credits are paid for at your own expense and require registering with the University. The level of course work required by the professor will vary depending on the number of credit hours in which you enroll. Contact us immediately after receiving notification of acceptance into SAI in order to begin the graduate level credit process.

Questions

AgLiteracy@cals.arizona.edu; 602-827-8253